Gu Zao Rojak : my favourite Uncle and his rojak

This has been my favorite rojak. The owner is an elderly Uncle, he is friendly and always chatty, and is passionate about making the rojak. His stall is right at the corner of the first coffee shop at Block 347 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, just a stone's throw from AMK Hub and within walking distance from Ang Mo Kio MRT. 

I have been eating his rojak regularly for quite a while. I used to stay with my Grandpa at Block 343 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 and this coffee shop is near there. When ordering, I always tell Uncle that I want it to be spicy and he has the special chill for that extra kick. He said, "This chilli is for those that like it extra spicy, and not all are able to take this level of spiciness."

I went on a Sunday for his rojak. There were few customers in front of his stall. I told Uncle, "I want the $5 version to share with a friend and no chilli for this." He remembered my special order and asked, "So, no chilli ah? not even a bit?". And, I replied, "No. My friend cannot take chilli so not even a bit." I waited there, he served a few of the other orders before signaling me to move forward. He passed the plate to me and said, "I made half with chilli and the other half without chilli so both of you can share." 

Uncle is taking pride in serving his rojak. He made an effort to grill the youtiao and tau pok before cutting them up and adding to the rojak. He then mixed well with his special prawn paste and sprinkled a generous amount of crushed peanuts before serving it. 

The coffee shop that the stall is in will be undergoing renovation from 14 March 2022 to 31 March 2022. 

GU ZAO ROJAK

Block 347 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 #01-2150 SINGAPORE 560347

Operating Hours: 11.30 am to 9.00 pm (Closed on Wednesdays)

Tow Kwar Pop : it has been around for 50 years and counting

It started by 2 brothers in 1965 and it has been around for more than 50 years since then. This stall serves Rojak set at $4.00 and $5.00.  It consists of their signature Tow Kear Pop, Cuttlefish, Fried Dough Fritter, Pineapple, Turnip, Green Papaya and also slices of Apple. It was served with 2 types of sauces separately in the saucers, the dark sweet sauce that tasted a little sourish and a rich and fragrant Shrimp Paste. I enjoyed dipping those pieces of the Rojak into the sauces. I could decide the amount of sauce that I liked in such a way and by serving the sauces separately, the Tow Kwar Pop and Cuttlefish would not get soaked in it and it will remain crisp to the last bite. 

An extra portion of sauce is chargeable at $3.00 as well as for other ingredients like Tow Pok ($1), You Tiao ($1), Dried Fish Fillet ($2) and Cuttlefish ($5) are available at different prices. It was sprinkled with some ground peanuts for a rich nutty flavor. 

The Tow Kwar Pops were freshly toasted over the charcoal, it was meticulously grilled by flipping around to make sure every side was toasted to a slight crisp in a traditional way before cutting it up and adding in to be part of the Rojak. Each Tow Kwar Pop was stuffed with blanched bean sprouts and shredded cucumber. 

The portion is good for a light snack or to go in between meals. This is definitely amongst one of the best Rojak and is a must-try if you are at Tiong Bahru Food Centre. 

TOW KWAR POP

30 Seng Poh Road #02-06 Tiong Bahru Food Centre SINGAPORE 168898

Operating Hours: 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm (Closed on Mondays)

Lau Hong Ser Rojak : the famous Rojak at Dunman Food Centre

Mr Lim, Khai Ngee, 56, is the owner of this unassuming hawker stall in this food centre. I have heard a lot about his Rojak. Some even said this is the best Rojak in Singapore and the waiting time could be at least an hour. Mr Lim is passionate and insists on using only the best and freshest ingredients. He still crushed and toasted the peanuts and not using those done in the factory just like most of the other stalls out there. He sources the best prawn paste from Penang and dried cuttlefish from Argentina. And, he is still making his own chilli paste.

I was there near 5.00 pm and seated somewhere near the stall, waiting for the signboard to be lighted up. He started exactly at 5.00 pm and I thought I was the first customer but there was already an order ahead of me. I waited. He looked up when he spotted me and asked for my order. I decided to go with a $2.00 portion. The prices are $2, $3, $4, $5 and $6 for Rojak with an option to add Fried Bean Curd for 0.30 cents, a piece of You Tiao for $1.40 and Century Egg for $1.00. There is also the option to add Dried Cuttlefish for $2, $3, $4, $5 and $6. He asked me to come back later. I waited at the empty table right in front of his stall. I observed how he diligently toasting those You Tiao and Tua Pok over the charcoal fire right at the corner of his stall. Then, he meticulously cut it up and mixed with other ingredients like turnip, pineapple, cucumber and even bean sprouts with the prawn paste. He works on it like a masterpiece. He even insists on doing so amidst a long queue in front of his stall. He brought it over to my table when it was done and he said thank you in Hokkien when I handed him the payment. 

The sauce is thick and its fragrance has been further enhanced by the chunky peanut sauce. The You Tiao and Tau Pok were nicely grilled for a light crispiness with a smoky aroma. This is definitely amongst the best Rojak in Singapore. They do accept calling in to place the orders in advance which contributed to an even longer waiting time but the wait is worthwhile though. 

If you are staying in Ang Mo Kio, there is a noteworthy rojak at the first coffee shop of Block 347 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, just a stone's throw from AMK Hub and is near the Ang Mo Kio MRT. This Uncle has been there for the past 15 years. He is equally passionately in serving the best Rojak, he is also painstakingly toasting the You Tiao and Tau Pok. If you requested for an extra level of spiciness, he has a special type of extra spicy chilli paste just for it.

LAU HONG SER ROJAK

281 Onan Road #02-14 Dunman Food Centre SINGAPORE 424661

Operating Hours: 5.00 pm to 1.30 am (Closed on Sundays)

Lunch at Tiong Bahru Food Centre

I was there on the last day of 2013 for lunch. 

I'd think this particular bowl of messy looking Yong Tau Foo served with Fishball Noodle was quite a surprise. I was there rather late and most items have already sold out then. I was given the option of Mee Kia with Yong Tau Foo as suggested by the friendly Auntie at $4. 

I did not get to choose the items. What i got was a mixture of everything like cuttlefish, green chilli with fish paste, bitter gourd with fish paste, tau pok with fish paste, fish dumplings, fishballs with kang kong.

HUI JI FISH BALL NOODLE . YONG TAU FU

30 Seng Poh Road #02-44 Tiong Bahru Food Centre SINGAPORE 168898.

MIN NAM PORK RIBS PRAWN NOODLE

30 Seng Poh Road #02-31 Tiong Bahru Food Centre SINGAPORE 168898.

TOW KWAR POP

30 Seng Poh Road #02-06 Tiong Bahru Food Centre SINGAPORE 168898.

TIAN TIAN YUAN DESSERT HOUSE
30 Seng Poh Road #02-15 Tiong Bahru Food Centre SINGAPORE 168898.

KOPI MUSEUM
30 Seng Poh Road #02-03 Tiong Bahru Food Centre SINGAPORE 168898.

Tasty Rojak

I have already eaten lunch when i came across this stall. The owner of this particular stall is a friendly elderly Uncle in his 60s. He looked rather eager when he spotted me walking towards his stall.

He asked, '$3?'. I said, 'No. I just want the $2.50.'

I seated at the table right in front of his stall. The Uncle served the rojak in a few minutes.

He stood beside the table and started chatting with me. He said this stall has been around for 30 years. Honestly, i never quite expect this stall to be around for decades as the signboard looks pretty clean to me. Uncle said he has been painstakingly in maintaining it. And, he said most of the stalls in this food centre are new and these new stalls usually last only a few months.

He started his stall with his Sister and Brother but both of them decided to call it quit and left him alone. He said he has to wake up very early to get all his ingredients then prepared it. He said he usually has to work from morning to about 10.30 pm or slightly earlier.

While chatting with Uncle, i took a bite of the tau pok. Both the you tiao and tau pok have got a delightful crispiness. I told the Uncle so. He said, he toasted it before he served it. He said the only secret to keeping its crispiness is not to serve it immediately after toasted.

He said he insisted in using the freshest ingredients to serve. He told me that he has been using the Prawn Paste from Penang to mix his rojak. He actually proudly having it stated on his signboard, too. The other ingredients found in the rojak were the fresh tasting cucumber, pineapple, turnip and lots of beansprouts to add the desired crunchiness to the texture. It was topped with bits of freshly grounded peanuts to enhance the flavor. The portion was rather good for $2.50. The taste is actually comparable to those famous ones out there. I could tell the prawn paste is of a good quality as it is rather thick with a rather distinctive taste.

I would have invited Uncle to pose for my picture but he is a bit shy to do so. He is the type of hawker that deserved my respect. He is passionate in serving quality food at an affordable price. Uncle shared that the business is not as good as it used to be after the closure of the cinema. I do hope his stall is still around when i am here the next time. I hope his stall is able to survive for another decade or longer.

I enjoyed the chat with the Uncle and his rojak.

TIAN TIAN XIANG ROJAK

69 Geylang Bahru

#01-2735 Geylang Bahru Food Centre

SINGAPORE 330069.